How can businesses utilize YouTube cards to promote related content and drive traffic to websites or other videos?

Businesses can effectively utilize YouTube cards to promote related content and drive traffic to their websites or other videos by following these steps:

1. Understand YouTube cards: First, familiarize yourself with the different types of YouTube cards available – merchandise, fundraising, video, playlist, associate webpage, and poll – and determine which ones are most relevant for your business goals.

2. Plan your content strategy: Before creating cards, have a clear content strategy in place. Identify the key videos you want to promote and the specific goals for each video (e.g., increasing watch time, driving website traffic, or generating leads).

3. Create engaging and relevant content: Make sure the videos you promote with YouTube cards are high-quality, engaging, and relevant to your target audience. This will help ensure that users are more likely to click on the cards and take the desired action.

4. Design and place cards strategically: Add cards at appropriate times during the video, usually when there's a natural break or transition. Ensure the cards are visually appealing and easy to understand. Use clear and concise text, and include a strong call-to-action (CTA) to encourage users to click.

5. Use the right type of card for your goal:
   - For driving traffic to your website, use the "associate webpage" card type and link to a relevant landing page.
   - To promote other videos or playlists, use the "video" or "playlist" card type.
   - If you're raising awareness for a cause or nonprofit, consider using the "fundraising" card type.

6. Analyze performance and optimize: Regularly review the performance of your YouTube cards in YouTube Analytics. Look for trends, such as which types of cards perform best or which placements generate the most clicks. Use this data to optimize your cards and improve their effectiveness over time.

7. Cross-promote on other channels: Promote your videos with YouTube cards on other social media platforms, your website, or email marketing campaigns to increase visibility and drive more traffic.

8. Leverage YouTube's end screen feature: In addition to using cards, consider using YouTube's end screen feature to promote related content and drive traffic to your website. This allows you to display a customized screen at the end of your videos, with up to four elements, including video or playlist links, channel links, or webpage links.

By following these best practices, businesses can effectively use YouTube cards to promote related content, engage their audience, and drive traffic to their websites or other videos.